NCI director says agency is more stable than perceived

Plus: Did my prostate screening do more harm than good? ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

January 23, 2026 Check out STAT+

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Hi! Angus Chen, STAT's cancer reporter, here. Yesterday, we published a Q&A that I did with Anthony Letai, the new director of the National Cancer Institute. As I prepared for that interview, I spoke with people from across the cancer ecosystem, including leaders in non-profit, comprehensive cancer centers, research, and staff in the NCI, to see what mattered to them and what they wanted to hear from the new director. Most were optimistic about his appointment, noting that he's already met with cancer center directors and is finding ways to support the centers. Others admitted they weren't sure how much Letai would be able to stabilize the fractured research landscape in cancer. "He's inheriting what he's inheriting," one research leader told me. In our interview, Letai sought to project a more hopeful image for the future of cancer research. Take a look below.

HHS Photo/Amy Rossetti STAT+ | Anthony Letai says NCI is more stable than perceived and is heading for a big year NCI Director Anthony Letai says agency is on firm ground despite layoffs and grant disruptions, ready to prioritize immuno-oncology and precision medicine. By Angus Chen Opinion: Did my prostate cancer screening do more harm than good? Editor's 15-year journey with low-risk prostate cancer shows how PSA screening in U.S. fuels overdiagnosis and overtreatment compared with other countries. By Howard Wolinsky Opinion: I'm getting the HPV vaccine at 24. That's a problem Even before the childhood vaccine schedule's update, doctors often overlooked the vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer. By Anamika Shrimali Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images STAT+ | What's in Congress' sweeping health care deal: PBM reform, telehealth, science funding Appropriations bill would give HHS $116.8 billion, a modest increase over 2025 but $33 billion more than the Trump administration requested. By John Wilkerson and Daniel Payne

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